This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Van Koeverden's the man

Oakville kayaker Adam van Koeverden deserves to be at the head of the delegation carrying the Canadian flag into Beijing National Stadium on the night of Aug. 8. A committee will make the decision to be announced Wednesday when the Canadian team is officially named.

(TORONTO STAR PHOTO)

Adam van Koeverden won gold and bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. (THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO)

Give the flag to the guy wielding the big paddle for Canada in Beijing.

Oakville kayaker Adam van Koeverden deserves to be at the head of the delegation carrying the Maple Leaf into Beijing National Stadium on the night of Aug. 8.

A committee composed of the chef de mission, assistant chef de mission, two athletes and a coach will make the decision to be announced Wednesday when the Canadian team is officially named.

There are other worthy candidates, but van Koeverden is clearly the best choice, particularly by the Canadian Olympic Committee's own standards.

The COC is putting a bigger premium on performance than ever before. The athletes and sports who show they can produce are the ones who will get the lion's share of resources under former swim great Alex Baumann's leadership of the summer program.

Article Continued Below

No other athlete has van Koeverden's track record heading into Beijing. Not even close.

He's the defending Olympic and world champion in the K-1 500 metres. He's won five of the six World Cup races held this year – bronze in the other – and recently set a world record in the K-1 500. His main rival, Tim Brabants of Great Britain, considers him the favourite in the K-1 500 and K-1 1,000 metres for Beijing.

The thing is the 26-year-old doesn't try to avoid the pressure of those expectations. He's clearly stated: "Bring it on."

That's the kind of athlete you want at the front of your parade.

The Canadian canoe-kayak team has made some big strides and every athlete you speak to credits van Koeverden for leading the way.

"He just showed that it's possible," said teammate Thomas Hall, a contender in the C-1 1,000 metres. "He's good in his leadership role with that. I think that really made everybody step it up."

He's definitely the kind of guy who sets a tone.

When Elvis Stojko made his statement that this group of Olympians should "think twice" before going to Beijing because of China's human rights records, it was van Koeverden who eloquently and forcefully told the former figuring skating great he was out of line. Canadian athletes haven't had to talk much about it since.

A label often applied to van Koeverden is that he's "cocky." It's one he resents, but you can understand it, given the force of his personality and his confidence.

But cocky athletes are generally resented by their peers. Not only is van Koeverden extremely well-liked by other Canadian athletes – he counts triathlete Simon Whitfield and fencer Sherraine Schalm among his friends in other sports – he's very popular among his rivals, often training with them. Brabants calls him a "class act."

Then there's his charitable efforts on behalf on Right To Play, the Toronto-based humanitarian organization trying to bring sport and play programs to the most devastated parts of the world.

Plus, the Olympic competition schedule works out perfectly for van Koeverden to be the flag-bearer. He doesn't compete until the final week in Beijing. No worries about the long day that goes with the opening ceremonies and the extra duties as well.

The problem with the flag-bearer selection process is that it's often political or tries to be fair in that oh-so-Canadian way. There's unwritten rules such as: if you've carried the flag before – as van Koeverden did in the closing ceremonies in Athens after winning gold and bronze – then you've already had your turn.

But they gave him the flag then because he'd fully earned it. It's the same reason he should keep it to kick things off for Canada in Beijing.

Delivered dailyThe Morning Headlines Newsletter

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com